Martin and Roger speak with Ramesh Cidambi, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Duty Free

Ramesh Cidambi might have become an explosives expert. He could have been a botanist. But fate decreed that he embarked instead on what would become a stellar 33-year career with one of the world’s great retailers.

Episode 9: Martin and Roger speak with Ramesh Cidambi

Martin and Roger speak with Jaya Singh, President of TFWA

Episode 8: Martin and Roger speak with Jaya Singh, President of TFWA

Episode 8: Martin and Roger speak with Jaya Singh, President of TFWA

Episode 7: Martin and Roger speak with Luka Maga

Ignacio Vazquez Guerra

Episode 6 of TRI-POD, the Moodie Davitt Report video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group, features a fascinating discussion with Ignacio Vazquez Guerra, Global Head of Marketing Travel Retail at Bacardi. TRI-POD is hosted by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder &amp; Chairman Martin Moodie and Roger Jackson, Managing Director of Dubai-based The SEVA Group IMEA and Organico Solutions, the Dubai operation of The SEVA Group.

Episode 6: Ignacio Vazquez Guerra, Bacardi Global Head of Marketing Travel Retail

TRI-POD video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group

Episode 5 of TRI-POD, the new Moodie Davitt Report video podcast series in association with The SEVA Group, features Heidi Van Roon, President &amp; Founder of the Spark Group of Companies, one of the most dynamic and passionate individuals in the travel retail community. Her Vancouver-based company provides a wide array of market-leading recruitment and staffing services for luxury &amp; airport retailers and brands. In this episode, Heidi talks about her early life in Canada as the daughter of immigrant parents; her subsequent career development and the realisation that she was a natural-born entrepreneur. In a compelling segment, she addresses the crucial role of frontline staff in a fast-evolving, pandemic-shaped airport landscape. But rather than painting a stark picture of a contactless future, Heidi contends that human engagement is actually more important than ever. We also discover that Heidi has multiple strings to her bow. What’s her connection with a Canadian number one hit single? Tune in to find out. As always, Roger and Martin don’t just talk shop with their guest. Find out what duty free item (bought at the Dufry store at Vancouver International Airport wine store, of course) Heidi might chill out with on a balmy evening and meet the fascinating trio she plans to invite to an&nbsp;al fresco&nbsp;dinner on TRI-POD’s resident paradise island.&nbsp;

Episode 5: Heidi van Roon, President & Founder of the SPARK Group of Companies

In this edition, a newly slimline Ruediger talks about the unexpected dietary and fitness benefits of lockdown; his formative early career at Harrods in the UK (including perhaps the world’s most unusual job interview with former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed); his early days at Heinemann; and of his quirky initiation into the world of fine cigars through long-time Heinemann Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Board member Kay Spanger. As always, Roger and Martin don’t just talk shop with their guest. Find out what duty free item (bought at a Heinemann wine store, of course) Ruediger might crack open on a balmy evening; discover what pre-eminent politician’s biography he plans to read; and meet the fascinating trio that he plans to&nbsp;invite to an&nbsp;al fresco&nbsp;dinner on TRI-POD’s resident paradise island.

Episode 4: Gebr Heinemann’s Ruediger Stelkens on Coldplay, Kylie and Cohiba Behike 52s

In this edition Nick Cook talks about a career journey that has taken him to Ghana and to the Seychelles before securing his current role in Global Travel just as the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020. As a result he has spent the past 16 months doing anything&nbsp;but&nbsp;travelling. But he affirms his and Diageo’s faith in and deep commitment to the travel retail channel. “I think that COVID actually gave us an opportunity to really forensically look at the business like we’ve never done before,” he says. “There were already some pretty big trends around penetration rates dropping so the spirits category was not growing at the same rate as passenger numbers. “That really started to trigger us to ask what are we going to do differently and actually how do we be the partner of choice to accelerate out of this pandemic. “That led us to a category approach, which was actually fairly new, particularly in the alcohol industry, for global travel. And last year, at the Moodie Davitt Virtual Travel Retail Expo we launched our brand new category strategy with a very bold ambition to try and double the category.” As always, Roger and Martin don’t just talk shop with their guest. Find out what duty free item Nick might crack open on a balmy evening on our resident desert island; what music he might listen to while there; and also the fascinating quartet of special guests he plans to invite to an&nbsp;al fresco&nbsp;dinner.

Episode 3: Nick Cook, General Manager Europe & Americas at Diageo Global Travel

In this fascinating episode, Sharon talks about she entered the duty free industry with Aer Rianta International (ARI) in Moscow in the 1990s and what the combination of culture shock and ARI’s indomitable spirit taught her. She also reflects on the close family culture of Dubai Duty Free and the leadership of key influences in her career such as Executive Vice Chairman &amp; CEO Colm McLoughlin. Sharon talks, too, about being a woman in a still male-dominated sector, praising Dubai Duty Free in that regard but recalling how when she was appointed to the role, a leading supplier commented with much surprise: “I always knew Dubai Duty Free was a forward-thinking organisation. And now I know, as it has put a woman in charge!” As always, Roger and Martin transport this week’s guest to a desert island. Find out what tipple Sharon might sip on those balmy evenings and how a certain Australian winery might be missing out big time on Dubai Duty Free sales. Discover why she ‘ghosted’ Roger Jackson on Facebook, and which, of the countless options at Dubai Duty Free, she would take to the island with her as an indulgence.

Episode 2: Sharon Beecham, Vice President – Purchasing at Dubai Duty Free

In the introductory first episode, Roger explains his aims for the series and gives his views on the fate of the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes this year. “It is a complicated, emotive conversation,” he says of the show. “Everybody’s got a different opinion. And it’s a really challenging conversation.” Jackson talks about the “fantastic work” done by TFWA in helping to fund critical lobbying groups and says it is critical that the association is supported. Suggesting that a physical and virtual hybrid solution might be the best answer, he comments: “I think the challenge is that for people to look at a date in October, whether that is a trade show or a holiday or anything else, is really difficult at this point.” But it’s not just industry talk. We learn (to our surprise) of Roger’s chosen choice of music if left on a desert island and what duty free tipple he might treat himself to as the sun goes down (spoiler alert: Diageo executives look away now), and of his (another surprise) favourite airport.

'Check-In Desk' with Roger and Martin

Travel Retail in Podcast in association with The SEVA Group 

The Moodie Davitt Report releases a new video podcast series called TRI-POD, in association with The SEVA Group.Each edition will feature a different guest chatting not just about the travel retail industry but also their own lives, likes and inspirations. TRI-POD will be dually hosted by The Moodie Davitt Report Founder &amp; Chairman Martin Moodie and Roger Jackson, Managing Director of Dubai-based The SEVA Group IMEA and Organico Solutions, the Dubai operation of The SEVA Group. Roger has a wealth of travel retail experience, much of it generated at global drinks giant Diageo, where he spent over 13 years. The SEVA Group, founded and owned by Severino Pušić, has diverse interests across travel retail (supply, distribution and retail), local market distribution and real estate. Founded in 1997 from its origins as a liquor and tobacco wholesaler in the Balkans, The SEVA Group has emerged as a powerful international force, with operations in Panama, Australia and Dubai, and a global distribution centre in Croatia.

TRI-POD

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Episode 9: Martin and Roger speak with Ramesh Cidambi

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Episode 7: Martin and Roger speak with Luka Maga

Episode 6: Ignacio Vazquez Guerra, Bacardi Global Head of Marketing Travel Retail

Episode 5: Heidi van Roon, President & Founder of the SPARK Group of Companies